HONOLULU (AP) - Ten people have evacuated their homes as firefighters battled a blaze that had already scorched 2,500 acres of rural Maui.

The fire hadn’t been contained Tuesday afternoon, said Maui County Fire Services Officer Ed Taomoto. He said 10 residents from Kahikinui homesteads have evacuated, while 10 others chose to remain in their homes.

Three county helicopters poured water on the flames from the air. County public works bulldozers laid fire breaks along with state forestry crews. Workers from the Haleakala, Ulupalakua and Kaupo ranches were helping.

The burned area is mostly dryland shrub on the south side of Haleakala, Taomoto said. The blaze stretches from sea level to about 2,000 feet above sea level.

The flames hit several spots in the area but was considered one fire, Taomoto said. The flames were near the 25 to 27 mile markers on Piilani Highway.